Sunday, November 1, 2009

Proverbs 16:9- A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps

This past week has thrown us for a loop. Proverbs 16:9 holds very true in our lives right now as we are directed by Him on another path.
On Friday October 23rd, Paul and I went for a sonogram to look at our sweet daughter one last time in the womb. We just went to make SURE everything was okay, as we were pretty sure anyway that it was. I walked in with a list of questions to be answered. They were:
1. Size of baby? 6 lbs. 15 oz.
2. Head down? You bet!
3. Still a girl right? Still a girl!
4. Amniotic Fluid level? Below 5 (normal range is about 8 for 37 weeks)
well..that's concerning....

The doctor came in after that and was a little concerned about the placenta...He called it Stage 3 mature and calcified. This is somewhat normal since Stage 3 means full term (which i was at 37 weeks) and calcification happens anyway a little at the top of the placenta so the mom doesn't bleed to death when it comes time to expel the placenta.

so... we walked out a little confused and a little worried...because although these things were concerning...they weren't pressing...

I called to make another appt. with the doctor to get a non-stress test as he suggested. Come to find out though, he couldn't do anything for me because I wasn't his patient. So we had to make a decision...

Continue with the midwife or go with the doctor...

We definitely didn't want to make a hasty decision as Proverbs 19:2 says: Also it is not good
for a soul to be without knowledge, and he sins who hastens with his feet.
Also in a multitude of counselors there is safety (Proverbs 11:14)

A few hours later we made our decision..we decided to go with a hospital birth, as we saw that a physician is for the sick (Luke 5:31) And saw that Piper's life might be in danger.

DISCLAIMER: I reiterate, this is something we saw in God's word for US to do... by no means am I saying everyone should do this, in fact, it would be sin for you if you did it without faith...Romans 14:22-23 says: The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.

So when we went back to the doctor that day(almost a week later), we found more calcification than before, as it is beginning to divide the placenta (the concern of this is that nutrients and blood flow aren't able to go to her as well)
They checked again on the amniotic fluid level, Around 4 this time. The only little puddle she has is where her mouth is so she is still able to practice breathing PRAISE THE LORD!
The cord is also around her neck. (25% of babies have the cord around their neck)

Her breathing and heart rate still looked great from the sonogram...and the Non-stress test proved that her heart rate was steady under no stress.

So on Friday, they scheduled a contraction stress test that allowed her to be under some stress to see how she would handle the cord around her neck and how that would effect her heart rate.

They hooked me up to a machine with two straps over me and allowed me to do a natural form to create contractions instead of giving me pitocin. (SUCH a blessing, because the doctor is really trying to work with me, as he knows I want as natural a birth as possible at this point) He's trying really hard not to do a C-section so that's why were going through lots of monitoring at this point... anyway...
SHE DID GREAT! He said her heart rate did remain steady through the contractions and he sent me home for the weekend to be on strict bed rest, this is so all the nutrients I take in can go to my little lady... as she only gained 1 oz. in a week and at this point she should be gaining 1/2 ounce/day. Nevertheless she is 7 lbs. right now!

I go back on Monday to do another non-stress test and sonogram to see where she stands. They will check me to see if I'm inducible and we'll go from there. He said he wanted her out as soon as possible, because she won't be able to thrive in the womb much longer. Again though, PLEASE petition the Lord on my behalf that they won't have to do a c-section and that she can be safely delivered vaginally.

In the mean time, Im doing kick counts to make sure she's still moving around and drinking LOTS of water...

Please pray for us...








4 comments:

  1. Paul,Rachel, and Piper-
    We love you.

    David
    Amy
    Jonah
    & Georgia

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  2. My goodness things are in constant flux with ya'll, it's crazy - i will definitely be praying for your family, I wish I was close so I could be near you Rachel!
    much love to the lovely family

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  3. I'm praying!!! I'm so encouraged by your faith. Praise the Lord for how he carries us through...always directing our steps.

    Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." Isaiah 30:21

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  4. Continually I pray for all three of you. i cannot wait to see you all! i love you.

    ReplyDelete